The Central Knights will head out to square off against the Classical Purple at 5:30 p.m. on Monday. Keep an eye on the score for this one: the two teams posted some lofty run totals in their previous games.
Central took a ten-run defeat the last time they faced off against Rogers, but this time they managed to keep it close and that made all the difference. The Knights narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past the Vikings 16-15. While the Knights didn't have the best season last year (they finished 3-11), it's starting to look like those struggles are a thing of the past.
The team relied heavily on Janet Batista, who went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI. The team also got some help courtesy of Stasy Baez, who got on base in four of her six plate appearances with two doubles and one RBI.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Classical). They put the hurt on Mt. Pleasant with a sharp 19-0 win on Thursday. The Purple have beaten the Kilties the last five times they've met, but they better watch out: this was the closest the Kilties has come to flipping the script.
Emmy Tavares was excellent, getting on base in four of her two plate appearances with three stolen bases. Amya Manston was another key player, getting a hit.
Classical always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of 1.238. That was just more of the same: they've now posted an OBP of 1.000 or higher in four consecutive matchups.
Central's victory was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 6-2. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 15.5 runs over those games. As for Classical, their record is now 4-1.
Monday's game might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Central has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .611. However, it's not like Classical struggles in that department as they've averaged 1.527. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Central took their victory against Classical in their previous meeting back in May of 2023 by a conclusive 14-4 score. The rematch might be a little tougher for the Knights since the team won't have the home-field advantage this time around. We'll see if the change in venue makes a difference.
